The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-23
SECRETARY LAMAR.
NOT Absent-Minded Enough to Forget His
Bride-The Only Time He Was Bewildered.

NOT Absent-Minded Enough to Forget His
Bride-The Only Time He Was Bewildered.
Washington Special to New York Sun.
Secretary Lamar arrived, to-day, with his
handsome bride. Wagers had been laid by clerks
In the departments who see daily evidences of
MS abstractedness, that the Secretary would
come On without her, but he didn't, and he
proved to be very gallant and attentive BRIDE
groom. few days before he went to Georgia
to get married Secretary Lamar had occasion to
speak of his alleged absent mindedness. His
friends, who say he intended to invite his family
and friends to his wedding, but forgot to send
out the invitations, recall what he said then.
Its all bosh," said Mr. Lamar, ito call me
absentminded. l was never absent-minded nor
bewildered in my life, except in battle. In off,
cial life can keep as straight and regular as
clock. But III own up to getting oewildered in
battle. / never knew where was nor where
the enemy were. After / had been in two or
three fights concluded that / must lay down
some definite rule of conduct in fight to which
could hold myself, for if l did not could not
tell where my bewilderment might some day
take me and my regiment l decided that no
matter what happened. would always go ahead
In straight line just as far as circumstances
and the enemy would let me. At the battle of
Williamsburg l followed this rule so far that
1t nearly cost our people the services of
myself and regiment If it had not been for
a. f. Hill my first extended acquaintance with
the North would have been made from the slen-
DER colen OF vantage to be had in a military
prison. l charged ahead SO hot and SO fast that
when halted my entire regiment was through
the anemys lines and in their rear. Hill, how
ever, came up on each side of my regiment and
prove the enemy back. AS he rode up to me he
said: Colonel Lamar, do you know where you
areF l had to acknowledge a very limited
amount of information on that point and was
that had gone through the enemy's lines.
General Hill told me to take my regiment to the
rear and let his men go oil, but l begged to be
permitted TO go on. and go my regiment was put
in line with Hills brigade, and went on
Il used to think" Mr. Lamar went on to say
before saw much fighting, that tho slaughter
must be frightful. could not see how. where
80 many bullets were flying, there was any
chance at all for men to escape being hit. But
soon wondered how anybody was hit at all. My
men that day at Williamsburg shot themselves
al. out OF ammunition twice. When We went
into bivouac at night went about asking the
boys how they felt I met one big Mississipplan
from my home town.
John, did you fire off all your powdera
mo he said. i tried nard all day, Colonel
to do my best, and didn't fire but twice. All
day lone didn't draw bead on q Yankee but
twice. I've got my ammunition here and he
tapped his cartrid ge-box
"'You fred twicep said. Did you hit EN-
those tmesp
".Wel, Colonel, to tell the truth. missed one
fank. and I'm in doubt about tile other
THAT illustrates war;" said the Secretary. IA
lot OF men march out and proceed to create a lot
OF accidents The side that can produce the
most accidents for the greatest number of con-
secutlve hours wins the day."